Wikipedia

Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) is a nonprofit organization that fights hunger throughout Cook County, Illinois. The GCFD distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and community programs, serving more than 800,000 adults and children every year. In fiscal year 2016, the GCFD distributed more than 70 million pounds of nonperishable food, produce, dairy products, and meat - the equivalent of more than 160,000 meals every day.[3] Of the $96,883,955 spent in 2016, over 90% went to direct food distribution programs.[2]

Greater Chicago Food Depository
Formation1979 (1979)
TypeNon-profit
Legal status501(c)(3)
Headquarters4100 W Ann Lurie Pl.
Chicago, Illinois 60632
United States[1]
Region served
Cook County
Membership
700 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters
Executive Director
Kate R. Maehr
Main organ
Board of Directors
Revenue (2016)
$106,149,642[2]
Expenses (2016)$96,883,955
Websitehttp://www.chicagosfoodbank.org

The GCFD is a charter member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network.[4]

History

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One of the Greater Chicago Food Depository's warehouses, which is located at 4100 W Ann Laurie PL in Chicago, IL.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository was founded in 1979 by Tom O’Connell, Robert W. Strube Sr., Rev. Philip Marquard, Gertrude Snodgrass, Ann Connors and Ed Sunshine. Following an increase of poverty in the Chicago area, the six founders were inspired to start a food bank.[5] They followed the example of John van Hengel, who started the nation's first food bank in Phoenix, Arizona.[6] However, due to an Illinois statute that prohibited the use of the word ‘bank’ in the name of non-banking entities, the name ‘depository’ was chosen.[7]

A year after incorporation, the Greater Chicago Food Depository opened their doors at the Chicago South Water Market. Major benefactors included the City of Chicago, which provided a start-up grant, as well as Strube Celery and Vegetable Company, which donated warehouse space. By the end of their first year, the GCFD distributed 471,000 pounds of food from 22 food donors to 85 agencies.

Food supply grew in 1981 when Illinois legislators passed a Good Samaritan law, which protected food contributors from legal liabilities.[7] Within a year, food donors increased to 111, distribution to 6.1 million pounds and agencies to 375. The growing food bank settled in a 91,000-square-foot (8,454 m2) facility at 4501 South Tripp Avenue in 1984.

In 1986, GCFD established a Perishable Food Program, now known as Food Rescue, with a grant from Chicago Community Trust. The program collected and distributed unused food from restaurants and caterers to soup kitchens. The depository further broadened its distribution in 1993 with new programs. The Produce People Share Program addressed the need for fresh fruits and vegetables in the community, and the first Kids Cafe began serving after-school hot meals for low-income children.

By 1998, GCFD's distribution topped 25 million pounds. In that same year, the food bank founded Chicago's Community Kitchens, a free 12-week culinary training program for unemployed and underemployed adults. In 2001, the first Producemobile, a farmers’ market on wheels, began distributing fresh produce to low-income communities.

The GCFD acquired a new warehouse and training center, in 2004, which allowed them to double their food distribution capacity.[8] The 268,000-square-foot (24,900 m2) facility is located in Archer Heights, Chicago, and remains the headquarters of the GCFD today. In addition to increased storage space, the facility hosts administration and training programs like Pantry University, which began the same year.

Organization Structure

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The Greater Chicago Food Depository is led by a Leadership Team, a Board of Directors, and an Associate Board. The Leadership Team consists of the CEO/Executive Director, Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, Vice President of Community Impact, and the Vice President of Development.[9] The Board of Directors is made up of local business leaders in a variety of industries.[10] The Associate Board, launched in 2014, is led by two co-chairs. The board consists of more than 100 volunteer young business professionals interested in helping further the organization's mission.[11] As of November 2017, there are 138 employees of the GCFD,[12] as well as 23,863 volunteers.[13] Administration costs are $5,680,478 annually, about 5% of total expenses.[14]

Programs

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Producemobile

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The Producemobile started in 2001 as a way to distribute fresh produce to neighborhoods in need.

In 2001, GCFD launched the Producemobile, a beverage-style truck that delivers donated food directly to individuals across Chicago on a weekly basis. Many of these individuals live in areas where produce is difficult or costly to obtain. A second Producemobile was added in 2005, and eventually made its way to Evanston.[15]

Mobile Pantry

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The Mobile Pantry program launched in 2007, and distributes food to more than twelve sites each month. The sites are in areas with high poverty levels and low food assistance from the GCFD, according to the 2006 Cook County Unmet Need Study. In addition, the program delivers food on evenings and weekends to provide assistance to more people.

Hunger Walk

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The Hunger Walk raises money and awareness for those who are struggling to get proper nourishment. The 32nd annual Hunger Walk took place on September 16th, 2017.

In 1985, the GCFD organized the Hunger Walk, an event which helps raise awareness on hunger and supports the GCFD. In 2017, it is reported that over 12,000 people participated in their 32nd annual Hunger Walk in Chicago's Jackson Park. The Hunger Walk spans 2 miles, and through the revenue from this event, GCFD could fund some of their partner agencies for an entire year.[16]

Food Rescue

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Since 1987, the GCFD's Food Rescue program has been recovering prepared and perishable foods, such as meats, dairy products, baked goods and produce, that might otherwise have been wasted. Using refrigerated trucks, Food Rescue drivers—who are state-certified in food handling and sanitation—collect surplus foods at grocery stores, restaurants, food catering businesses, and cafeterias. These donations are then delivered to pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters for incorporation into their meal plans.

Kids Cafe

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The Kids Cafe program is a national initiative of Feeding America and administered locally by the GCFD. Since 1993, the Food Depository's Kids Cafes have partnered with after-school programs to provide hot meals, tutoring, and other educational programs for children. The Food Depository has launched 44 Kids Cafes, serving more than 2,500 children each day.

Older Adult Program

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The GCFD's Older Adult Program was formally launched, in May 2006, to address the needs of low-income seniors. The program delivers fresh produce to seniors at 80 Chicago Housing Authority complexes, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sites, and other locations in Cook County. Of the 812,000 people who rely on food from the Food Depository and its network of member agencies every year, 18 percent are older adults.

Veterans' programs

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The GCFD serves hundreds of veterans on a weekly basis, estimated between 125 and 175 veterans. The GCFD has two pantries specifically used to serve veterans, located at the VA Hospitals in Cook County at Jesse Brown and at Hines. Combined, both pantries have been able to provide assistance to about 88,000 veterans. In addition to food, GCFD provides veterans with other necessities such as long underwear, socks, bags and sleeping bags.[17]

Lunch Bus

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The Lunch Bus delivers food to children who are eligible for free or reduced lunches throughout the school year and during the summer.

The GCFD's lunch bus initiative provides food to children, who are eligible for free or reduce price meals at school, throughout the school year and summer. There are a total of 4 lunch buses with 24 stops from the Little Village to South Holland neighborhoods. The lunch buses serve children sandwiches and milk, both during the school year and the summer.[18]

Fresh Truck

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The Fresh Truck provides fresh produce to people who have food insecurity as a part of a partnership with the Cook County Health and Hospitals System

The Fresh Truck is a mobile program started by the GCFD and the Cook County Health and Hospitals System in 2015.[19] It began, as a test program, as a way of providing healthy foods to people who are unable to get enough in their diet due to location and/or resources. Doctors, at hospitals, write people, who need more healthy nutrients in their diets, "prescriptions" which they can then take down to the fresh truck and redeem for fresh fruits and vegetables. This service is also available to the general public at certain times, when people able to go and obtain fresh fruits and vegetables from the fresh truck regardless of prescription.[20]

Education and Training

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Chicago's Community Kitchens

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Founded in 1998, Chicago's Community Kitchens is a free, 14-week culinary training program for people with barriers to employment like arrest records or lack of work history. The program, located at the GCFD, prepares students for a career in food service by providing them with a solid foundation in food preparation. Students spend the first 12 weeks training and the final two weeks working, as an intern, at a professional kitchen. The program has a 90% job placement rate, and graduates have been able to land jobs in some of Chicago's top restaurants. GCFD has also assisted students, of the program, with transportation while they are enrolled in the program.[21]

Pantry University

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Founded in 2004, Pantry University is the GCFD's training program for member pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.[8] Pantry University is dedicated to building the capacity of member agency partners by providing training and educational workshops on topics such as grant writing, creating budgets, and volunteer management. Pantry University has offered courses at the GCFD as well as at community colleges, neighborhood centers, and agency sites throughout Cook County.

Client workshops and classes range from food safety and sanitation, nutrition, fundraising, grant writing, creating and maintaining budgets to operational best practices. All classes are taught by Food Depository staff, agency representatives, and skilled practitioners who are knowledgeable in their topic areas.

Partnerships

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The GCFD is sustained, in part, by a variety of corporate sponsorship. In particular, many Chicago metropolitan area food suppliers provide direct donations to the GCFD. Companies that have donated or donate to the GCFD include Starbucks,[22] Buddig & Company,[23] Tyson Foods,[24] Jewel-Osco,[25] Smithfield Foods[25] and Gotham Greens.[26] In addition, the GCFD has partnered with Cook County to find ways to curb food insecurity by providing fruits and vegetables to more than 760,000 affected residents.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Location of the GCFD HQ". Mapquest.
  2. ^ a b "Charity Navigator - Rating for Greater Chicago Food Depository". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  3. ^ Bostedt, Shelbie Lynn. "Do good at the Greater Chicago Food Depository". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  4. ^ "Feeding America Annual Report" (PDF). Feeding America. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  5. ^ "Food Depository Turns 30 Amid Growing Need". Aug 2, 2009. Retrieved 2017-11-09 – via PressReader.
  6. ^ Martin, Douglas (2005-10-08). "John van Hengel, 83, Dies; Set Up First Food Bank in U.S." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  7. ^ a b "Illinois General Assembly - Illinois Compiled Statutes". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  8. ^ a b "Greater Chicago Food Depository opens huge facility". nwitimes.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  9. ^ "Team Bios - Greater Chicago Food Depository". Greater Chicago Food Depository. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  10. ^ "Board of Directors - Greater Chicago Food Depository". Greater Chicago Food Depository. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  11. ^ "Associate Board - Greater Chicago Food Depository". Greater Chicago Food Depository. Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  12. ^ "Jobs at the GCFD". Linkedin.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  13. ^ Bostedt, Shelbie Lynn. "Do good at the Greater Chicago Food Depository". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  14. ^ "Greater Chicago Food Depository - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  15. ^ "Evanston ProduceMobile". archive.district65.net. Retrieved 2017-10-31.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Support food pantries and shelters at the Hunger Walk". ABC7 Chicago. 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  17. ^ Sanders, Hosea (2016-12-01). "Greater Chicago Food Depository serves hundreds of veterans in need". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  18. ^ "A different kind of food truck: Lunch Buses feed hungry kids during the summer". WGN-TV. 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  19. ^ "County, Food Bank Battle Food Insecurity". Chicago Tonight | WTTW. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  20. ^ "CCHHS Launches New Pilot Program to Address Patients' Food Insecurity – Cook County Health and Hospitals System". www.cookcountyhhs.org. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  21. ^ Sanders, Hosea (2016-12-05). "Chicago's Community Kitchen offers second chances". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  22. ^ Bomkamp, Samantha. "Homeless shelters serve up Starbucks: 'It's a dignity thing'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  23. ^ "New initiative to help provide fresh produce to food insecure". ABC7 Chicago. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  24. ^ "Tyson Foods Pairs with National Association of Convenience Stores to Donate to the Greater Chicago Food Depository". Deli Market News. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  25. ^ a b Foods, Smithfield. "Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes® Partners With Jewel-Osco to Donate More Than 130,000 Pounds of Protein to Two Chicagoland Food Banks". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  26. ^ FOX. "World's largest rooftop farm up and running in Chicago". WFLD. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  27. ^ "New initiative to help provide fresh produce to food insecure". ABC7 Chicago. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
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